Tuesday, 29 July 2014

Derawar Fort Bahawalpur Pakistan

Derawar
Fort (Qila Derawar) is built by Hindu Rajput Rai Jajja Bhati of Jaisalmer in
the Cholistan desert of Bahawalpur Pakistan. Derawar Fort is a large square
fortress in Pakistan in Bahawalpur. The Derawar Fort is 100 Km from Bahawalpur,
actually the largest and most superlatively preserved fort of Cholistan. The
forty bastions of Derawar are visible for several miles in Cholistan Desert.
The walls have a circumference of 1500 metres and stand up to 30 metres high.
The fort was occupied by Royal Family of Jaisalmer until by the Nawabs of
Bahawalpur in 1733.

In 1747,
the fort ownership slipped from the hands of the Abbassi owing to Bahawal
Khan's preoccupations at Shikarpur. Nawab Mubarak Khan took the stronghold back
in 1804. The adjacent mosque was modeled after that in the Red Fort of Delhi.
There’s a royal necropolis of the Abbasi family, which still owns the
stronghold. The area is wealthy in archaeological artifacts associated with
Ganweriwala, a vast but as-yet-unexcavated city of the Indus Valley
Civilization. Derawar Fort is in good condition; its walls are intact and still
guarded by soldiers in fezzes, however its age is unidentified. But the tombs
of the Amir’s of Bahawalpur are also at Derawar, decorated with attractive blue
glazed tiles contrasting with the ochre landscape. Some of the cannons which
were used times ago by the Army of Bahawalpur are also kept in this fort.

Qila
Derawar is an interesting excursion for a full day trip requiring a four-wheel
drive vehicle to relish the beauty of Derawar Fort. The drive takes 3 to 4
hours through fascinating barren landscape. However; you’ve to take permission
from the present Amir of Bahawalpur to get inside of the fort. The potent fort
is measuring a 672 feet in length on each side, with a gate on its southern
side approached by means of a winding ramp. Most of the bastions show geometric
designs made by burnt bricks. A number of buildings in the fort provided
quarters for Nawab’s army. The retiring quarters of the royal families are
still stand deserted inside the fort. The beautiful four shrines of devout
Muslims are sited near Derawar Fort. The Derawar Mosque, having three domes and
four minarets, is an exact replica of Moti Masjid at Red Fort Delhi, and was
built in 1844 A.D. Derawar Fort was stunning in their era and according to
historical accounts Derawar is considered a pre historic and pre Harapen
settlement.Source: Charismatic Planet